A Wyoming Department of Transportation snowplow was plowing westward on U.S. Highway 14 near Daytonon Friday when an eastbound Honda CR-V lost control while taking a turn and slid into the front of the truck, crumpling the large blade affixed to it.
Two people inside the Honda sustained minor injuries, and the driver was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions, which included slick roads with limited visibility.
The WYDOT employee driving the truck wasn’t hurt. However, the plow blade was deemed totaled and will cost about $26,000 to replace.
“Because the plow took such a significant hit, it was bent to the point that it ruined the integrity of the plow,” said WYDOT spokeswoman Laura Dallas. “It somewhat limits our ability to plow, as we have to determine whether the plow is usable or repairable. In this case, it wasn’t, and that plow won’t be in our lineup anymore.”
There’s widespread snow across Wyoming for the first time this winter season, and WYDOT has been clearing it from the state’s highways since the first flakes fell. Unfortunately, the hazards of snow-covered pavement haven’t sunk in for some drivers.
WYDOT has several backup plows and spare parts to ensure nobody is affected by a gap in snow removal, but incidents like this still take a plow off the road when needed most. And the people responsible for plowing into plows will pay the highest price.
Road Knowledge
Dallas said the section of U.S. Highway 14 where the crash happened can be particularly treacherous in the snow. Therefore, WYDOT’s plow trucks will frequent this area while making their rounds.
“You're either coming off or going up the mountain,” she said. “There are quite a few turns, sharp curves, drops in grade and some limited sight distance. Whenever there is a significant storm or snowfall, our plows are out there.”
Excessive speed contributed to this incident, adding an unnecessary hazard to an already hazardous situation. The driver of the Honda CR-V lost control on the slick surface while already going too fast for the conditions that afternoon.
Dallas said commuters should familiarize themselves with what’s ahead on their route when traveling through snow. In addition to the weather-related hazards, there’s a good chance they’ll encounter more than one plow truck along the way.
“Whether it's clearing the shoulders, doing clean-up, making room for future snow, it’s wise for drivers to keep that in mind and check the road conditions before going anywhere and driving accordingly,” she said.
Slow Snow Know-How
This is the fifth WYDOT plow hit by another vehicle in the 2024-2025 winter season, including one in the Ten Sleep Canyon that did not result in injuries or damage to the plow. Incidents that result in totaled plows take significant time and money to resolve.
“A plow hit is a plow temporarily off the road, no matter how severe the hit,” said WYDOT spokesperson Jordan Young. “We will take a truck off the road after every strike, at least temporarily, to assess damage and see what can be done.”
Young said there are no shortages of snowplows in any of WYDOT’s districts, but even temporarily taking units out of service means it’ll take more time to clear the highways during snowstorms.
“Our plows cover a lot of ground, and we want as many of those on the road as possible,” she said.
Then, there’s the actual cost of replacing a totaled blade or repairing damage. In Wyoming, the driver who caused the incident will probably be on the hook for the thousands of dollars it’ll cost to make amends.
“We work pretty frequently with insurance companies to recoup costs for damages to state equipment and assets like plows, guardrails and bridges,” Young said. “If we know who the driver is, we will work with their insurance to get our costs recouped.”
For the driver of the Honda CR-V, that could be a lot more costly than a citation for excessive speeds — all the more reason to take it slow in snow.
Rigged In House
WYDOT has a rigging shop in Cheyenne, where it rigs and repairs all of Wyoming’s plow trucks. Young said this cost-saving enterprise ensures every truck is rigged to fit WYDOT’s standards and can be quickly tended to when plowed into.
“We typically build around 25 rigs a year,” she said. “We take the chassis and add all the equipment that we need — the sander, controls, everything like that. It’s a unique process we do in-house to save costs.”
Eight fabricators working at the shop install the plow blades, hitches, hydraulics, sanders and dump boxes for each truck, as well as the lighting and control systems needed to operate them. Building a single plow truck takes around 380 hours and $275,000.
The totaled plow blade will be replaced by a new one built at WYDOT’s rigging shop. Still, if drivers keep themselves and others safe on the roads this winter, this expense could have been avoided.
“This incident isn’t going to keep a plow off the road by any means, but we're still getting snow on the ground,” Dallas said. “People need to watch their speeds, especially while our plows are out there.”
Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.
